September 6, 2016
South Burnett’s rugby league season finally wrapped up at the weekend with three exciting junior Grand Finals played in Kingaroy, and local teams in sudden-death games in Toowoomba.
A large crowd gathered at T.J. O’Neill Oval in Kingaroy to cheer on the players taking part in the U12, U14 and U16 Grand Finals (see match reports, below).
Two women’s rugby league matches, between the Kingaroy Red Ants and Hervey Bay Seagulls, were also played as exhibition games in between the grand finals.
In Toowoomba, Burnett Blue’s 2016 impressive season in the U18s TRL competition came to an end when they lost a semi-final 52-20 against the Pittsworth Danes.
Pittsworth will now play Warwick next weekend to determine who will meet Valleys in the Toowoomba’s U18s Grand Final on September 18.
In the Toowoomba U16s competition, Kingaroy Red also had no luck, going down 26-16 to Dalby in the Preliminary Final.
Dalby will now play Souths in the Toowoomba’s U16 Grand Final next weekend.
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U12s Grand Final
Kingaroy Red Ants proved too strong for Central Burnett in the U12s Grand Final, defeating the visitors 16-10 in a closely fought game.
The home team led 16-6 for much of the second half, before Matthew Roth scored a try for the Brumbies right on the deathknell.
Kingaroy tries were scored by Harrison Brown (2) and Joe Zgrajewski. Cody Gale and Andre Woltmann each kicked a goal.
Matthew Roth scored both of Central Burnett’s tries and captain Dayne Dakin-Mimi kicked one goal.
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U14s Grand Final
The U14s Grand Final between Cherbourg and Wondai was one of the most exciting rugby league matches played in the South Burnett this year.
Both teams had hordes of supporters cheering them on from the sidelines, lifting the players at times to some incredible feats to try to get the upper hand over their opponents in an evenly matched contest.
Cherbourg was first to score when Derek Gyemore dived over the line.
This try was followed just minutes later when the Hornets put up an across-field kick on the last tackle, which gave Clifford Dynevor the opportunity to take the score to 10-nil.
But Wondai struck back before half-time, when Patrick Hoult crossed and Albert Dynevor added the extra points.
The half-time score was Cherbourg 10, Wondai 6.
The arm-wrestle continued after the break, with the Wolves at times looking dangerous.
Wondai crossed the Cherbourg line on at least one occasion, only to be held up by Hornets’ defenders.
Wolves’ captain Michael Evans finally made no mistake, running away from tacklers to score on the far side of the field. The conversion attempt was waved away, so the scores were locked at 10-all.
At that’s how the scoreboard stayed for most of the second half.
With two minutes left on the clock, a Cherbourg player made a break with the line wide open in front of him, looking certain to score, only to be flung into touch by the Wondai fullback.
When the full-time siren sounded, the scores were still locked at 10-all.
After a short break to allow the players to catch their breath, play resumed with five minutes of action each way. At the end of the 10 minutes, there was still no change in the scoreline so the game went to Golden Point, ie. the first side to score wins.
The Hornets, emulating their NRL heroes, worked themselves into position for a field goal attempt, but it was unsuccessful.
At this point either side could have won.
However, Cherbourg then built up pressure again on the Wondai line, passing out wide to Clifford Dynevor who managed to avoid a desperate tackle attempt from Wondai to score.
The final score was Cherbourg 14, Wondai 10.
Cherbourg tries were scored by Clifford Dynevor (2) and Derek Gyemore. Selwyn Cobbo kicked one goal.
Wondai tries were scored by Patrick Hoult and Michael Evans. Albert Dynevor kicked one goal.
Cherbourg club president Warren Collins, congratulating both teams after the game, commented that “no one could have written a better script for a grand final”.
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U16s Grand Final
After the excitement of the U14s Grand Final, the U16s game was almost an anti-climax but there were still plenty of Wondai (and Nanango) supporters at the ground to cheer home their combination team.
The tussle between the South Burnett boys and the Central Burnett visitors was another close game that could have gone either way.
At half-time, the combined Wondai / Nanango team was behind 12-6.
The margin could have been greater except for strong defence on the wing by the local team.
Wondai / Nanango went on the attack after the break, with Kaia Williams scoring near the corner post. Jakeb Mead then landed a difficult conversion attempt to level the scores at 12-all.
Three minutes later Zac Williams scored for the Brumbies to again put the visitors in the lead.
As long shadows started to cross the ground, Wondai / Nanango captain Conan Holding managed to ground the ball despite a mountain of defenders. Mead’s conversion put the local team in front for the first time in the match.
With 11 minutes left to play, Kaia Williams scored his second for Wondai /Nanango, Mead converted, and the margin was now eight points.
Central Burnett tried to hit back, crossing the line … but it was no try and they were running out of time to score twice.
Two minutes later, a Brumbies player was sin-binned for a shoulder charge which was the last hurrah for the visitors.
The final score was Wondai / Nanango 24, Central Burnett 16.
Wondai / Nanango tries were scored by Kaia Williams (2), Dan English and Conan Holding. Jakeb Mead kicked four goals.
Central Burnett try scorers were Kelvin Cooper, Jamal Kyle and Zac Williams. Ryley Drayton kicked two goals.
True to their hybrid origins, Wondai / Nanango players sang both the Nanango and Wondai team songs after the trophy presentation.
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Other trophies awarded in Kingaroy on Saturday:
- Delegate Of The Year – Jamian Currin (Murgon Mustangs)
- U16 SB Eagle Of The Year – Samuel Thompson (Kingaroy Red Ants)
- U16 Girls Player Of The Year – Danielle Jones (Kingaroy Red Ants)
- U18 SB Eagle Of The Year – Thomas Springate (Nanango Stags)
In the U14s women’s rugby league exhibition game, Hervey Bay narrowly defeated Kingaroy 26-22; while in the U16s match, Kingaroy was defeated 30-4.
